Quote:
Originally Posted by fjtorres
The networks would (and still do) sneer at product that is well received, avidly followed by millions, yet doesn't cover *their* high overhead and expectations.
That same content, translated to a low overhead specialty cable network like A&E, LIFETIME, HBO, SYFY, or SHOWTIME can make a ton of money off that "limited" audience.
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The networks and the major cable networks are generally the same companies (and that was even more true before CBS and Viacom split up a couple of years back - now CBS only has Showtime and its half of the CW), so they've sort of got all bases covered
While acceptable ratings in the key advertiser demos for a individual channel can be lower - since the same company generally owns many cable channels, and also gets carrier fees on top of advertising - and allow for some more specialized programming, there still is a general "lowest common denominator" mentality at work. Look at the shift in programming on channels such as A&E, BRAVO, History Channel, TLC, Discovery etc. over the last few years.
Even on cable, a "Terriers" that's critically acclaimed, but gets bad ratings in the key demos, met the same cancellation fate it would on a regular network.